News

2017 Festival Welcomes Special Guests & Filmmakers

Hot Docs is honoured to welcome a number of special guests, including fashion designer Zac Posen, actor and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, scientist and activist Bill Nye, Buddhist monk and human rights activist Venerable Sovath Luon, artist and art exhibitor Kevin Buist, New York nightlife icon and Love Ball founder Susanne Bartsch, trapeze artist Mohamed Gharbi, Native American musician and music producer Stevie Salas, world champion free diver Goran Colak, among others, who are featured in films at the upcoming Festival, April 27 to May 7.

In addition to guest subjects, 192 directors will be in attendance at the Festival to introduce their films and participate in post-screening audience Q&As.

Stevie Salas from Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World – Native American guitarist, author, music director, record producer and Advisor of Contemporary Music at The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

David Bull from Ukiyo-e Heroes – Artist and craftsman who reinvigorated the ancient art of Japanese woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e.

Maisha Graves from Step – Film subject and mother of student featured in the film.

Chris Kirkley aka Sahel Sounds from A Story of Sahel Sounds – Music producer who deals with, and spins, modern West African music in his home of Portland, Oregon.